Cable tension regulator



Nov; 21,1944;

w. CADE 2,363,229

CABLE TENSION REGULATOR Filed March 17, 1944 IVNVENTOR JOHN W C405 BY 51M I ATTORNE/ Patented Nov. 1944 v g aasazzs CABIETENSION nadunafron u i John W. Cade,

. :Sturgess, lnc t not California La Canada, cam, "and to Glendale, Calil a corporation state man 17, 1.944, seria iv 526,86:

"12 C'lalins. (Cl. 745-501) i This invention relates to devicesfor mainteining the working tension. in a pair of bles ropes, wires, chains, or other tension memcontrol cabers usedin transmitting motion to: or operating backand forthsome distant device or part, particularly a movable vane, rudder, elevator aileron The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple device of the kind referred to,which willproduce an unusually. quick and firm loeking out of the tensioning means upon the millvoi a 7 pair of tensionedcontrol cables (or their equivalent) becoming unbalanced; as whenth controls are beingoperated. i 3

. The presentinvention pertains to the general 1 type 01' cable tension regulator disclosed in my copending patent application filed under Serial -Number'52l 389 on date of February 7, 1 944; and

. has to do with thelocking out arrangement.

In the drawing accompanying this application I 1 isa side view of one form 'oi myf'inventlon; it i i v Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross section ofFig. 1 as seen from the line 2--2 thereof;

Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section showing Before describing the drawing in detail it may stated that in thetype of eabletension reg'ulator here under consideration the device co nprises two main members, oneoi which is urged by spring meansior its equivalent) to move along the other member. One of the members is a bar-t,

like member and the other is'a block-like member slidably embracing the first member. One 01' the members is arranged to be anchored to thejstructure on whichthe installation is tobe made, and

the other has a c'rossarm orroek lever on it,

j (or its equivalent) to theoppositeendsof which lever the twocontrol cables are respectively secured or connected, and whichj cables are first adjusted byfturnbuckles '(not (shown) so as to set the driving end of the ystemin phase withthe driven end .under, the tension of I the, spring tending to slide the cable attachedmember along the fixed oranchored member, andin such a basic structure special means is provided forimmediately locking the two members mentioned against relative sliding movement when anextra pull or tension is applied to either control cable to rock the. aforesaidleverto tilt the members relativelyias whenroperating a rudder or its equivalent) and maintaining the two members so locked until the; pull ortension both cables 5 is again substantially equalized In the construction outlined eitherof the two relatively slldablemembers may carry the cable attaching cross arm or leveryand the other be fixed, as it is the rocking, or tilting of one of the main members relative to th'e other-by unequal pull on the two cables which causes the device to lock, .and in Figs. 1 and 3 it is the block-like member which carries or comprises the lever or cross armtowhich the cablesattachor connect,

while the'bar-like member is anchored, while in i Fig. 4 it isvice versa. i

Inthetwo constructionsshownin the drawing one of the main members is hereintermedthe "bar,"""and the other main member which slides longitudinally ofxthe baris termed the block.

In Figspl and'3 the bar isdesignated i while in Fig. '4 it is l',;andthe blockis "similarly desigd and 2 respectively. i i i i In both constructions the bar i sh wn as solid round bar,tho"itmay otany cross sectional form, solider hollow.

In Fig.1 the bar is indicated as provided with or otherwise formed flattenedends 3 withjholes 4 toadapt the bar. for bolting or anchoring to the a modified arrangement of the bar lockl'ngplates.

pin 8 projectingfrom the bar, while the other saddle 1 is preferably pivotally connectedlto-the 40 y i I blockthrough two ears l0 extending from the saddlefagainstopposite sides of the block. The pivot means 9 is preferably inthe center of the Fig. 4 it is the b on the bar by any suitable structure on which it is tobeusedfwhereasin anchoring holes I". 1 i i v The block}, 2' is arranged tobe relatively slidable along the bar I, |'and is resiliently urged therealong as by a coiled compression spring I, embracing. the bar and reacting against and from being pushed on. by the spring as by a stop block. as at 9 .by pivot means passing from the block from which the block isfltiltable with relation to the bar so that the. spring will not be forced out of alignment onthe bar when the two members are tilted or rockedrelatively.

In Figs. 1 to a the block 2 is provided with outwardly extendingleven arms I I .apertured at their ends asat l2 to which thecontrol cables I 3 and I4 respectivelyattach or are connected, and these lever arms rennin effect a straight lever extendingat right angles across the block and bar when theparts are innormalpositionas shown in Fig.

1 and permit tilting oi the block out of its right" T OFFICE lock 2" which isprovided with means or, stopped a edges of the washers holes grip the bar from opthese locking plates are used as shown best in Fig. 3 at H, l8, and in Fig. 4 but one set of the consisting of two of the loclring plates is shown angled position upon either cable being tensioned more or less than the other.

In Fig. 4 the lever or cross arm is positioned on the bar as at H and is rigidly secured thereto by any desired means, and the cables l3, l4 simi- 5 larly connected to its outer ends so that an un- 7 equal pull upon the cables will tilt or cant the bar I either way as denoted by the dotted positions depending on whichlcable is under the greatest tension, and when the tension is'equal the bar 10 will be in the central full line position. v

In Fig. 4 the spring 53 is shown double, that is, two springs 5' and 5" areusedone inside the other and which construction is optional on either design.

In both designs angularly. disposed locking plates or washers are carried within the block member and arranged in such a manner that the bar normally slides freely through them, but upon slight tilting of the block or bar relatively, the

posite sides to look the members against slidin movement.

Inthe construction of Figs. 1 to 3 two sets of plates is used as shown at 19/ i In Fig. 3 the plates (preferably of steel or hard metal) are formed with ce tral apertures somewhat larger, than the bar preferably sharp-cornered) and-the plates are,.tilted until their edges almost engage the bar and they are held loosely in thisposition as by pins or bolts 20 projecting inwardly from or passing through the side walls Zoftheblock.

In Fig. 3 each set of locking plates is shown as comprising two plates, but there maybe from one toany number. Also the two sets are positioned or tilted at oppositely disposed angles so that one set will lock the two main members against sliding under the extra pull of. one cable on the cross arm, and the'other set will lock the parts when the extra pull is on the other cable. In each case one set of plates will be tilted into bar engaging position while the other set will be tilted toward further disengaged position. If desired one edge only of. the holes in the plates' may be sharp and the other rounded (as indicated in Fig. 3) so that the spring 5 will always be able to exert its force in maintaining the minimum working tension in the cables even though the pull on the cables is unequal.

Some of the plate positioning pins (20) may constitute spacing bolts for the side or body walls 2 of the block and be provided with nuts 2| on their outer ends as indicated in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 4 but one set of locking plates is shown within the hollow block. This is the alternative showing where the block is indicated as being the anchored member. In this figure only one set at iii. The plates are free to move on each other and are slidably supported by the specially curved inner'wall 23 of the block so as to be normally free of gripping contact with the bar I when it is in full line central position, yet upon tilting the bar either way by an unbalanced pull on the cables l3, l4 attached to the cross arm H the angle of the plates with respect to the bar will be reduced to cause engagement of the edges of the plate openings with thebar and at once lock it against sliding action relative to the block.

To permit establishing the free or critical angle of the plates as close as practicable to the gripping angle (so that the members will lock without 75 requiring too much tilting of the bar about the axis 9') an adjusting screw illmay be provided.

for initially determining'the angle or. the plates.- I'his screw may operate againsta rounded pon tion 220i one of the plates'and will constitute a cam from which-the plates will'tall to the dotted;

position when the bar is tilted (downwardly in the drawing) to the dotted position I", and over which it willslidewhen the bar is tilted in the opposite direction, ,to thus in either case reduce As it is desirable to provide means anglesto'axis 9' ot iFig. 4 or 9'ofFig.'3,' any suit able means maybe employed for thispurpose.

tension 9- of axispin 9" or lof theblockproject into it. If the bar is not round but is 'rectangular or oblong in cross section it su'fllcesto make the opening-26 in the-blockthroughwhich thebar passes, of a widthto'p'reventthe'bar from turning, or theinterior of the bore 21 or 21 -01 the saddle I or I through which the-bar slides, of the same shape asthe bar.

Having thus described myimproved cable tension regulator andthe'manner ofits functionin it will be evident thatwhile it willgenerally he used for maintaining the working tension in control operating cables, it will operateequally well with control systems employing ropes, "wires, chains, or rods, as well asin installations where part of the tension members are rods-or wires and part are cables, chains, or other flexible members,

and accordingly my use-of the word cable or cables herein and in the claims is intended to include any such equivalent control members in which the tensioning and looking out features of my special construction above desciibedisbr its equivalent applicable.

I therefore claim:

1. In a cable tension regulator of the char acter described, comprising a bar-like member with a block-like member relatively slidable along the bar-like member, spring means urging-the members to slide relatively, means for anchorpresenting an edge against the bar-like member in a manner to engage and lock with the same when the block-like member and the bar.- like member are tilted relatively, said-plate being normally disposed at a tilted angle relative to the bar-like member but insumcient to look therewith when the members are not tilted relatively.

2. In a structure as set out in claim 1, there being a plurality of such locking plates arranged in mutually slidable relation.

3. In a structure as set out in claim 1 there being another similar locking plate but tilted at an opposite angle to the first plate.

4. In a structure as set out in claim 1, spring means tending to urge said plate into tiltedposition. i

to maintain the leverarms of bothdesigns in a planeat right;

5. In a structure as set out in claim 1, means for adjusting the normal angle of said locking plate.

6. In a structure as set out in claim 1, there being a. plurality of such locking plates arranged in mutually slidable relation, and a second set of such plates but tilted at an opposite angle to the first set.

'7. In a cable tension regulator of the character described, comprising a bar-like member with a block-like member relatively slldable along the bar-like member, spring means urging the members to slide relatively, means for anchoring one of said members, and means adapted for connecting a pair of control cables to th other one of said members respectively at points spaced outward at opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of said bar-like member whereby an unequal pull on said cables will tend to tilt the members relatively, and a locking plate carried by said block-like member, said plate being apertuned and in freely embracing relation to said bar-like member and adapted to engage and lock with said bar-like memberat the edges of its aperture when sufllciently tilted with respect thereto, and means normally holding said plate at a tilted angle Just insufllcient to lock with said bar-like member when said members are not tilted.

8. In a cable tension regulator of the character described, comprising a bar-like member with a block-like member relatively slldable along the bar-like member, spring means urging the members to slide relatively, means for anchoring one of said members, and means adapted for conaseaaae necting a pair of control cables to the other one of said members respectively at points spaced outward at opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of said bar-like member whereby an unequal pull on said cables will tend to tilt the members relatively, and a plurality of relatively loose lockingplates carried by said block-like member, said plates being apertured and in free- 1y embracing relation to said bar-like member and adapted to engage and lock with said barlike member at the edges of their apertures when sufllciently tilted with respect thereto, and means normally holding said plates at a tilted angle Just insuflicient to lock with said bar-like member whensaid members are not tilted.

9. In a structure as set out in claim 8, there beingtwo sets ot said plates, and with one set tilted at an opposite angle to the first set.

10. In a structure as set out in claim 7, means for adjusting the normal angle of said plate.

11. In a structure as set out in claim 7, means supporting said plate and over which said plate is adapted to slide insuring a gripping angle of the plate with the bar-like member being eifected upon tilting of the members relatively by an overbalancing pull upon either of said pair of cables.

12. In a structure as set out in claim. ,8, means supporting saidplates and over which said plates are adapted to slide insuring a gripping angle 01' the plates with the bar-like member being eflected upon tilting by anoverbalancing pull upon either of said pair 01' cables.

JOHN W. CADE.

of the members relatively 

